Since September of 2022 and in partnership with over 50 local and regional industry leaders including the City of Tacoma, Metro Parks Tacoma, the Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Tacoma Housing Authority, and more, TPS has delivered over 1,200 learner experiences leading to industry-recognized certifications, job opportunities, and post-school support to help students transition into the workforce. Each student participant also earns a stipend and receives credit towards high school graduation. 

In its 11th year, Jobs 253 work-based learning and credentialed opportunities aim to bridge the gap for students who may not have supportive pathways or resources after graduation. By providing certifications, knowledge, experience, and connections, the summer programming aims to set students up for success in the adult world and help them secure livable wages and high-demand careers in industries that have immediate openings and lack a solid workforce.

From Environmental Services to Merchant Mariners to the Wildland Fire program, learners gain hands-on experiences in high-demand industries. Within Jobs 253, participants also earn their Financial Literacy Credential through a partnership with Everfi.  

“We are creating more diverse opportunities” shares Christopher Chase, CTE Innovative Coordinator at TPS. “We want to make sure that we’re not only looking at in-demand, high skill, livable wage career paths but [opportunities] even outside of skilled and technical skills trades.”

TPS not only provides its high school learners with pathways to productive citizenship, high-wage employment and economic mobility, and a purpose-driven life, it drives collaboration, social capital, and a sense of belonging with their peers.  

“We have a beautifully diverse community of learners, with a wide variety of backgrounds from 11 high schools,” said Jeff Klancke, CTE Instructional Facilitator at TPS. “We’re getting kids from all over the district coming together. They don’t know each other. They’re all quiet on day one. Quickly the experience is established and the camaraderie begins.”

Student Reflection

For Jordan B., a high school senior, the Drones program will help him get a foot in the door in the ever-growing industry of media. 

“I was initially drawn to the drone certification program due to my interest in photography and video work in the field of journalism,” shared Jordan. “I really enjoyed the class and took a lot of interest in the map reading portions of the program. Not only were we learning some highly in-depth information made for professionals but I was having a blast doing it.” 

By the end of the program, Jordan passed the FAA certification test. “With this certification, I now have an additional asset to put on my resume but also understand the law of airspace and how to stay safe.”

The Path Forward

Through continued partnerships with the city and local businesses, Tacoma Public Schools plans to continue diversifying its offerings to provide even more exposure, experiences, and industry visits for their current and post-high school learners. 

“We’re invested in keeping youth safe and we’re investing in keeping youth engaged,” said Chase. “We do this because it gives students outlets and a way that they can grow, gain credentials, and learn something new with a place of being.”

Learn more about the Tacoma Public Schools Summer Programming and how it’s impacting its learners here. 

If you’d like to join in on the New Pathways conversation, register your team’s key stakeholders for the October 19-20 New Pathways Convening in Tacoma, WA, visit the registration page here. Have questions about the event? Send them to marissa@gettingsmart.com.

The post Tacoma Public Schools: Bridging Learners to Personal Pathways appeared first on Getting Smart.

While President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan will contribute to restoring a healthy mind frame around why early learning initiatives matter institutionally, it’s leaders like Neal Shenoy, Founder and CEO of BEGiN, the parent company of HOMER, who have been championing space and innovation for early learning education in the home.  

“Early learning to some degree is the preventative medicine to education because you’re starting early, setting a strong foundation, and that’s going to create far better outcomes and far better trajectories for young children,” he shares.

So why is the most innovation in education really only happening in post-secondary and K-12 sectors?

“That makes sense,” Shenoy shares, “because you’re talking about older learners and a very established need. From test prep and college admissions to high school grades, professional lead skilling, and accreditation, you’ve seen in the past few years, a tremendous capital flow into those segments of education. But what you haven’t seen is that same level of innovation and scale brought to early learning,” he details.

Yet there’s hope. “We’re now starting to see a shift towards focusing on early learning. I think part of what’s catalyzing that shift is the pandemic,” says Shenoy.

“Parents of early learners appreciate the critical role they have to play as a family or parent in complementing the school. Schools can do a certain job but we as parents and families have to support and scaffold that child and in many instances, parents are a child’s first teacher. What’s really been underscored is the role of the home in learning relative to the role of the classroom or school.”

And while there has only been one company to date that has been apparent in the early learning space, another is quickly entering the scene.

BEGiN, an award-winning education company focused on early learning, has a mission to offer children the best start possible through memberships that combine digital, physical, and experiential learning. It’s a company that prides itself not only by offering access to early learning content but by offering all-inclusive solutions from HOMER, KidPass, codeSpark Academy, and now Little Passports.

Because as we know, not all content is created equal. From books to toys to activities to big and little screens, children are inundated with information whether parents are being intentional about it or not. So how can we ensure that the content they consume aligns with what we want our children to learn about and hold value in?

“Parents are looking for comprehensive solutions that engage their children in learning,” says Shenoy. And the recent acquisition of Little Passports does just that.

Not only does Little Passports support BEGiN’s mission, but it also adds extra elements of cultural learning and inclusivity through enriching globally-inspired activities, hands-on projects, and relatable characters. Essentially, Little Passports is a subscription for your child to travel the world and learn about different cultures.

The one-of-a-kind activity kits are delivered straight to your home. It ignites imagination and opens the door to a new way to see the world and explore science. It’s also designed in conjunction with professional educators, award-winning writers, and kid testers.

“It’s more important than ever that families have a multitude of enrichment options to help their kids develop critical skills while opening their minds, inspiring their curiosity, and igniting their imagination,” said Amy Norman, Founder and CEO of Little Passports.

“BEGiN is innovating on solutions that empower kids to develop both foundational skills and an array of interests that are so critical to becoming well-rounded individuals.”

The post Activating Our Passport to Early Learning Education appeared first on Getting Smart.

Last school year, many educators gravitated toward Screencastify as their go-to video creation suite and it’s no surprise that it remains a top resource for educators moving forward. Here are seven ways educators like you are using Screencastify for innovative classroom instruction and learning:

1. Amplify Student Voice

When students feel seen and heard, they can feel empowered too. Joanna Marcotte from The Founders Academy found an innovative way to carve space for student voice in her classroom this year that others can easily adopt.

“I had students create a video about what they did…in the spring, during their summer, or share other interests and passions. It was great to be able to hear student voices. It was nice to see all of my students without a mask and helped to put names to faces..”

2. Flip the Classroom

Brian Kowalsky of Strafford Public Schools pre-teaches concepts and skills through pre-recorded lectures that allow learners to “navigate through class projects at their own pace.”

Having pre-recorded video lessons available also encourages space for more learner engagement and builds in time for more questions and clarifications on lessons during instruction time.

3. Support for Parents

It’s important that parents and families also understand how to operate digital resources to help support their learners who return to the classroom. For Britt Eddy, a teacher from Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School, finding ways to support them through video can be as simple as creating how to’s for parents that explain how to access their student’s work, new assignments, or grades.

4. Support for Teachers

Similarly, teachers may also need somewhere to reference to gain knowledge on the latest education trends. Through Screencastify, one educator supports his fellow teachers through video creation.

“I am using it to create short how to videos to share with my colleagues in an effort to help teachers learn about new technologies, strategies, and ways to positively connect with students and positively influence teaching and learning.”

5. Encourage Literacy

The power of video also has the potential to forge a new love of reading and books. Barstow Middle School teacher Lauren Vandever shares:

“I use Screencastify to make and share book talk videos with my students. We also used it to have other teachers in the district film book talk videos. This encourages literacy, and students see reading as a lifelong experience and habit rather than an assignment.”

6. Google Slides

Pairing this tool with others like Google Slides helps educators present high-quality lessons with ease. Recording a presentation using Screencastify requires minimal effort for educators like Chris Lauzon from the District School Board of Niagara.

“For every google slide we have, we have Screencastify audios and videos of everything to make sure that all of our learner needs and styles are being met.”

Similarly, students can also use Screencastify Submit for a “fast, secure, and easy way to record and submit video assignments.”

7. Window to the World

Another superpower of video has always been its ability to span across regions. Video plays a huge role in connecting remote and isolated communities that present barriers in access to experiences and resources. Heidi Hague of Hoquiam School District shares how she uses video as a window to the world:

“We live in a very small and isolated community so these videos give me the opportunity to include slides of famous artworks, landscapes, or other “windows to the world” to my students. So far I’ve done units on fairy tales and tall tales, Ancient China and India, Ancient Greece and soon I’ll be doing Greek Mythology.”

The Path Forward

As we continue into the school year, how will you use the power of video to empower your learners? Screencastify has helped thousands of educators become more innovative in reaching and engaging with students through the power of video while carving digital paths for our learners today, and for tomorrow.

This post is sponsored by Screencastify. If you’d like to learn more about our policies and practices regarding sponsored content, please email Jessica Slusser.

The post 7 Ways to Use Screencastify for In-Person Learning appeared first on Getting Smart.

In the Native Hawaiian language, this means, “by doing, one learns” and is the stepping stone that empowers students (or “founders” as they are titled) at the Nalukai Academy Program on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

For Aaron Schorn, Nalukai’s Program Director, camp is the best two weeks out of the year. It is where a cohort of roughly 30 high school students from all the Hawaiian islands come together to build new skills of team development, entrepreneurship, leadership, intensive technology, and design in a culturally focused space. And it’s free.

“We are a social and cultural entrepreneurship organization,” said Schorn. “This is real, this is authentic and there is a purpose behind it. Every skill you learn, mentor you meet, skill you have — the reason is rooted in you. We build these capacities and mindsets and turn them into iterative realities.”

And that just scratches the surface of the Nalukai Startup Academy, a program that is not just another tech or entrepreneur program for students, explained Schorn.  It’s a place where the diverse youth of Hawaiʻi create their own waves of innovation through 21st-century skill-building but more significantly, space to mold intrinsic characteristics as a team and as an individual while rooted in Hawaiian culture.

An ever-increasing percentage of the cohort is of Hawaiian descent, shared Schorn. “You have to get the students to realize the power of their culture and their backgrounds. The program is rooted in group cohort culture and facilitating belonging.”

From the moment founders step into camp, a sense of community and culture is embraced. Students socialize in groups, create product teams, meet with staff, and collaborate with Hawaiʻi and global industry leaders and cultural practitioners who will assist their projects from ideation to execution. Nalukai’s program curriculum includes 5 areas of interest:

• Digital storytelling – branding & marketing, content creation, web design
• Leadership – project management, collaboration, team dynamics
• Entrepreneurship – networking, investor pitches, business plan development
• Design thinking –  prototyping, mind-mapping, iteration
• Technology – coding, web development, digital business tools

By the end of the intensive two-week camp, each team will be ready to showcase their startup work through a formal ho’ike (showcase, presentation, celebration).

How does Nalukai ensure innovative project success for their learners? They bring the community in. How do they challenge the reach and scope of what learning communities are? Schorn summarizes it best,

“When school is rooted in the relationship between student and mentor, that’s when it is successful. We don’t have our alumni as interns, we have them be key leaders and stakeholders in the organization. We need to actualize the ideas and strategies of the youth.” He continued “Nalukai is all about working on teams. From the coder, the writer, to the cultural practitioner. We are redefining the relationship between the adult and the learner; the mentor and the mentee.”

Whether the goal is to move off of the islands or stay in Hawaiʻi, Nalukai Academy is the connecting force that will allow Hawaiʻi’s next generation of leaders to have an impact and create better futures for their community.

“How do you teach someone to get their ideas out into the world?” Schorn emphasized. For Nalukai, one thing is certain; this academy strives to answer this question each year when the program sees its new set of Hawaiʻi future leaders through its camp doors.

For more, see:

• Getting Clearer: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
• 10 Ways to Foster An Entrepreneurial Mindset

Stay in-the-know with innovations in learning by signing up for the weekly Smart Update.

The post Nalukai Academy: Harvesting Hawai’i’s Next Generation of Leaders appeared first on Getting Smart.